Orbit Racing - Watkins Glen practice

smooth start

Orbit Racing posted the fifth-fastest GT time during practice for Sunday's 
Rolex Sports Car Series race at Watkins Glen International. Mike Fitzgerald 
lapped the 3.4-mile road course in one minute 57.691 seconds in the No. 44 Porsche 
911 GT3 RS. He will share driving duty with Joe and Jay Policastro. 

Heavy rain left the track quite "green", but Joe Policastro said that's an 
advantage.

"When we started this morning, it was a bit precarious because we had the fog 
and the rain. But as it went on this afternoon, it dried out," he said. "If 
the track is clean, you can start getting up to speed a lot faster and start 
making changes a lot faster to achieve results. It's tough to make changes or 
see results if the track is dirty or you have a lot of traffic out there. This 
track is really great because everyone has enough room. We have some good data, 
so we'll make some adjustments and we'll be ready for Sunday."

double vintage

Jay and Joe Policastro have enjoyed vintage race cars at Watkins Glen and 
vintage wines in the area, just four hours from their home in Latrobe, Pa. The 
region is a family favorite, with 16 members attending this weekend's race.

"We have made many trips to the Finger Lakes region for goose hunting and 
wine drinking," Jay Policastro noted. "The region is special from a family 
perspective.  Whenever we have the opportunity to compete at Watkins Glen, we always 
take our family, including my sisters and their kids. It's a great laid-back 
area, so we enjoy the time away."

Porsche potential

Strategy will be the key to victory in the GT class at Watkins Glen, with 
advantages for both the Orbit Porsche and the class-leading BMW M3s. Mike 
Fitzgerald noted the track's classic layout requires both handling (BMW's strength) 
and aerodynamics (Porsche's power).

"It suits the Porsche but it's also a very good BMW track, unfortunately," he 
said. "We have a bit of an aerodynamic advantage because the esses are kind 
of a long straight and the Porsche cuts through the air a little bit better. 
But aside from that, I don't think we have an advantage over the BMW."

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Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945